



Feb. 7, 1956 c. B. HAY

MORTAR APPLYING DEVICE Filed June 26, 1952 Y N wu n H mB m 2 W a o m w m m m United States Patent 2,733,593 MORTAR APPLYING DEVICE Clarence B. Hay, Sumter, S. C.

Application June 26, 1952, Serial No. 295,717

3 Claims. (Cl. 72-128) My invention relates to mortar applying devices.

A primary object of the invention is to provide a highly simplified and inexpensive mortar applying device which will enable a mason to lay up cored cement building blocks, and the like, much more rapidly than is possible when the mortar is applied with a trowel, the device having a new and simplified mode of operation, and effecting a considerable saving of the mortar by depositing the same in even strips upon the building block, without dropping the mortar into the cored openings of the blocks.

A further object is to provide a device of the abovementioned character which is adjustable to provide mortar joints of various thicknesses between the adjacent courses of building blocks.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a mortar applying device embodying my invention, part broken away,

Figure 2 is a plan view of the device.

Figure 3 is a central vertical longitudinal section through the device with an operating handle or bail thereof swung to a lowered position, the bail being shown elevated in dotted lines,

Figure 4 is a'bottom plan view of the'device,

Figure 5 is a transverse vertical section on line 5--5 of Figure 1,

Figure 6 is a similar section on line 6-6 of Figure 1, parts broken away,

Figure 7 is a fragmentary end elevation of the top or handle portion of the device, as illustrated in Figure 1, and

Figure 8 is a plan view of a building block of the type with which my motar applying device is intended to be used.

In the drawings, where for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, attention is directed first to Figure 8 which shows a conventional triple cored cement or cinder building block. The building block has three large openings or passages 1 formed therein, and defining relatively narrow parallel side walls 2, and intermediate and end transverse ribs or walls 3 and 4. The opposite ends of the block are recessed, as shown at 5. My mortar applying device is used for applying even and continuous strips of mortar to the tops of the sides 2 and ribs 3 and 4, in a manner to be described hereinafter.

My device comprises a portable body portion or pan 6 which is rectangular, and relatively shallow, as shown. The length and width of the rectangular pan 6 are slightly less than the length and width of the building block, so that the pan may engage the top of the building block and substantially cover the same, while having its sides and ends resting upon the block. The pan 6 has a con- ICE tinuous flat top 7, parallel longitudinal vertical sides 8 and transverse vertical ends 9, arranged at right angles to the sides 8 and preferably integrally secured thereto and to the top 7. The rectangular pan 6 preferably is formed of heavy gauge sheet metal or the like.

The bottom of the pan 6 is open, except for 3 longitudinally equidistantly spaced rectangular cover plates 10 which are arranged flush with the bottom of the pan and rigidly secured to the top 7 and spaced therefrom by upturned sides or flanges 11 and 12. The sides 11 and 12 are preferably formed integral with the cover plates 10, and may be permanently rigidly secured to the top 7 by welding or the like. The cover plates 10 are adapted to cover the cored openings 1 of the building block to prevent mortar from entering the same during the use of the device. Relatively narrow end transverse cover plates 13, adapted to register with the end recesses 5 of the building block are also arranged flush with the bottom of the pan 6 and permanently rigidly secured to the top 7 of the pan by means of vertical strips, or webs 14, preferably formed integral therewith. The webs 14 may be secured to the top 7 by Welding or the like, and the plates 13 are likewise welded or otherwise secured to the adjacent pan ends 9. The narrow cover plates 13 serve to cover the end recesses 5 and prevent the mortar from entering the same.

The sides or flanges 11 and 12 form with the sides, ends and top of the pan 6 and with the transverse webs 14 relatively narrow longitudinal and transverse passages 15 and 16 for registration with the sides 2 and transverse ribs 3 and 4 of the building block, when the device is applied to the building block in registering superposed relation. All of the parts thus far described make up a composite and unitary structure, and render the body portion or pan 6 rigid and durable. The cover plates 1.0 and 13 and associated sides and ends constitute partition means arranged within the pan for forming the passages 15 and 16.

The device is provided with a main horizontal longitudinal handle 17, disposed at the transverse center of the pan 6 and having its ends terminating substantial distances inwardly of the pan ends 9. The main handle 17 is maintained spaced above the pan top 7 by longitudinally spaced supporting legs or brackets 18, rigidly secured thereto at 19, and having feet 20 rigidly secured to the top 7 by Welding or the like.

An ejector plate or stripper 21 is arranged to reciprocate vertically within the rectangular pan 6, and this ejector plate is fiat, and cut out to provide openings for the cover plates 10 and 13. The marginal edges of the stripper plate 21 are arranged close to the sides 8 and ends 9, but are freely shiftable over the same. The stripper plate 21 is adapted to operate within the longitudinal and transverse passages 15 and 16, to eject mortar from the same and deposit it upon the building block, in a manner to be further described. The stripper plate or ejector 21 is adapted to traverse the entire vertical height of the pan 6, and to be arranged flush with the cover plates 19 and 13 when at the lowermost end of its downward travel. 7

The upward movement of the ejector plate 21 is adjustably limited by means of adjusting screws 22, preferably four in number, and arranged near the four corners of the pan 6, as shown. Openings are provided in the pan top 7 for the passage of the adjusting screws 22, and the screws have screw-threaded engagement with nuts 23, which may be welded to the top of the pan 6. With this arrangement, the upward travel of the ejector plate 21 may be varied, as desired, for varying the thickness of 1116 glortar strips applied by the device to the building The ejector plate 21 carries'four upstanding pins or rods 24, rigidly secured thereto near andinwardly of the pan sides 8. The vertical pins 24 are spaced slightly beyond the ends of the main handle 17, and are adapted to reciprocate vertically within openings formed in the top 7. The pins 24 have their upper ends rigidly connected with horizontal transverse flat connecting plates 25, which extend for substantially the entire width of the pan 6. L-shaped guide plates 26 have their lower horizontal portions 27 rigidly secured to the bottoms of the connecting plates 25, at the longitudinal centers of the latter by welding or the like. The vertical portions 2:8 of the L-shaped guide plates 26 are elongated and pro vided intermediate their ends with vertical slots 29, slidably receiving pins or screws 30, rigidly anchored within the ends of the main handle 17.

Anauxiliary U-shaped handle or bail 31 has its ends freely journalled within openings 32 formed in the L- shaped guides 26, near their upper ends. The bail 31 is adapted to be elevated and extend above the tops of the guides 26, as shown in Figure l. The bail is also swingable downwardly to the depending position shown in full lines in Figure 3, where it contacts the top of the main handle 17, and prevents vertical movement of the guides 26 and ejector plate 21.

The lengths of the pins 24 are such, that when the horizontal portions 27 contact the feet 20 to limit the downward movement of the stripper plate 21, the same will be positioned flush with the bottom of the pan 6. As previously stated, upward movement of the ejector plate or stripper 21 is limited by its contact with the adjusting screws 22.

In use, the auxiliary handle or bail 31 is grasped and elevated for raising the ejector plate 21 until it contacts the screws 22, which are previously adjusted to regulate the thickness of the mortar joints. The bail 31 is now allowed to drop to the depending position shown in full lines in Figure 3, where it contacts the main handle 17 and locks the guides 26 against downward movement relative to the main handle. Both handles 17 and 31 are now grasped in the hand and the pan 6 is now dipped l bodily into the mortar, and the mortar fills the passages 15 and 16 of the pan. The pan is now lifted from the batch of mortar and the bottom of the pan is scraped oil on a straight edge, such as the edge of the mortar trough.

This leaves the passages 15 and 16 full of the mortar a which is stiff or thick enough to remain within the inverted pan while being transported to the top of the building block. The pan may be filled with the thick mortar, prior to placing it upon the building block, by any other preferred means, such as by trowelling mortar into the passages 15 and 16. In any event, the mortar will remain within the passages 15 and 16, until ejected by the ejector plate 21, because of its thickness or consistency. The pen is now placed upon the top of the building block with the sides and ends of the pan in alignment with the marginal edges of the block. The cover plates 10 and 13 new cover the openings 1 and recesses 5 respectively, so that the mortar cannot enter the same. Thebail 31 is now elevated to the dotted line position in Figure 3, or some convenient intermediate position, and grasped for shifting the guides 26, pins 2 and ejector plate 21 downwardly. The main handle 17 is at this time held by the other hand of the operator so that the device will remain steady, and the mortar within the passages 15 and 16 is ejected from the pan 6 and deposited upon the top of the'building block. The main single handle 17 extends longitudinally of the elongated pan and passes over the center of this pan. The main handle 17 may be grasped in the right hand for manipulating the pan 6 and bodily shifting the same. The single handle 17 has its ends terminating inwardly of the ends of the pan 6. The single auxiliary handle 31 extends longitudinally of the single main handle and has its ends pivotally mounted upon the reciprocatory elements 26,

which in turn are slidably mounted upon the ends of the main single handle 17. The auxiliary handle may be swung to an open position remote to the main handle 17 or to a closed position close to the main handle, Figure 3. When in the closed position, both the auxiliary handle 31 and the main handle 17 may be grasped in the same hand and this will lock the stripper 21 in the raised position. When the pan 6 is resting upon the block with its passages filled with mortar, the single auxiliary handle 31 may be shifted to the raised position, Figure 3, at which time the auxiliary handle 31 and the main handle 2"] may both be grasped in the same hand and the auxiliary handle moved toward the main handle 17, and the stripper 21 is then moved downwardly. The auxiliary handle 31 may be passed between the thumb and torefinger, if desired. If desired, the main handle 17 may be held in one hand, and the auxiliary handle 31 held in the other hand and moved downwardly, as explained.

The mortar thus deposited on the building block is applied evenly and in continuous strips to the tops of the sides 2 and ribs 3 and 4. The thickness of the mortar strips is perfectly uniform, and there are no gaps in the mortar joint. Also, no mortar is wasted by dropping into the openings 1 or recesses 5, and the precise amount of mortar desired is applied to the building block.

It is to be understood that the form of the invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferrcd example of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit of the invention or scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A device for applying mortar to a building block comprising an elongated pan including a top wall and having its botton open, partition means within the pan for forming passages within the pan which passages receive the mortar, an ejector plate arranged within the passages, straps arranged above the top Wall and extending transversely of the pan and arranged inwardly of the ends of said pan, operating connecting means between the straps and the ejector plate, a single handle arranged above and spaced from the top wall and extending longitudinally of said pan and rigidly connected with the top wall and arranged substantially between such straps, upstanding reciprocatory elements mounted upon the ends of the single handle and connected with the straps, and a substantially U-shaped auxiliary handle extending longitudinally of the first-named handle and pivotally connected with said reciprocatory elements at points above said first-named single handle, said auxiliary single handle being adapted to be swung to positions close to and remote from said first-named single handle.

2. A device for applying mortar to a building block comprising a pan including a top wall and having its bottom open, an ejector plate arranged within the pan, a single handle arranged above and spaced from the top wall and rigidly secured to the top wall and extending over substantially the center of said pan, reciprocatory elements disposed at substantially right angles to the top wall and projecting above the handle, means mounting the reciprocatory elements upon the ends of the single handle, operative connecting means between the reciprocatory elements and the ejector plate, and a substantially U-shaped single auxiliary handle having its ends pivotally mounted upon the reciprocatory elements and extending longitudinally of the first-named single handle, said substantially U-shaped single auxiliary handle being shiftable to positions close to and remote from said handle.

3. A device for applying mortar to a building block having openings formed therein comprising, an elongated pan including a top wall and having its bottom open, a plurality of spaced covermembers mounted within the plan and having. their tops secured to the top wall and their bottomsflushwith the open bottom of the pan, the cover members being adapted to cover the openings in the block and spaced from the sides and ends of the pan, an ejector plate mounted within the pan and having openings for receiving the cover members, straps arranged above the top wall and extending transversely of the pan and arranged inwardly oftthe ends of said pan, operating connecting means between the straps and the ejector plate, a single handle arranged above and spaced from the top wall and extending longitudinally of said pan and rigidly connected with the top wall and arranged substantially between said straps. upstanding reciprocatory elements mounted upon the ends ofthe single handle and connected with the straps.

and a substantially U-shaped single auxiliary handle extending longitudinally of the first-named single handle 15 2,618,149

and pivotally connected with said reciprocatory elements at points above said first-named single handle, said auxiliary single handle being adapted to be swung to positions close to and remote from said first-named single handle.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

